Leatherhead War Memorials: George William Christopher Alexander

Town Memorial P1.R1.C3

Cpl
Geo. WC Alexander
Essex Regt.

Nov 4 1918

Taken Not Given, Liam Sumption, L&DLHS
George Alexander is not listed as serving in the Parish Magazine of May 1915¹.

In the Autumn of 1918 and early 1919 an infuenza epidemic known as the Spanish Flu ravaged Western Europe and killed whole families.

The Parish Magazine of December 1918 states that George William Christopher Alexander was buried on 9th November 1918 [two days later the war ended], a week after Ernest Wright. It records that they "had succumbed to the onset of infuenza and pneumonia, their resistance having been impaired by the severity of wounds sustained for which they had been discharged from the Army". ²

Sources
1. Parish Magazine of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, May 1915, via Mr L Anstee
2. Parish Magazine of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead, Dec 1918

Nothing is know of the action in which the wounds which caused George Alexander to be discharged from the Army were received, nor why he was in Leatherhead rather than, for example, Brightlingsea where his father lived.

Name: ALEXANDER, G
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Essex Regiment
Unit Text: 12th Bn.
Date of Death: 04/11/1918
Service No: 15226
Son of George Alexander, of The King's Head, Brightlingsea, Essex.
Grave/Memorial Reference: In East part. [local grave no. 419]
Cemetery: LEATHERHEAD (SS. MARY AND NICHOLAS) CHURCHYARD

In Loving Memory of George
The Beloved Son of Capt G Alexander of Brightlingsea
Who Passed Away Nov 4 1918
God Called Him Home

Links
Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry
The Essex Regiment 1914-18
Essex Regiment history
The Influenza Pandemic

the website editor would like to add further information on this casualty
e.g. a photo of him, and of any recollections within his family

last updated 9 Aug 2004